Reappraisal of hepatic arterial infusion in the treatment of nonresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer

Intra-arterial delivery of a recombinant adenovirus does not increase gene transfer to tumor cells in a rat model of metastatic colorectal carcinoma

Hepatic artery infusion of adenoviral vectors has been shown to increase transduction of certain hepatocellular malignancies in preclinical studies. In addition, clinical trials have begun evaluating the efficacy of gene transfer of cytotoxic genes to metastatic colorectal tumors through hepatic artery infusion. Here we evaluate the extent of gene expression and therapeutic effect following various routes of administration of recombinant adenovirus in a rat model of metastatic colorectal carcinoma. We administered adenovirus (AdCMVlacZ) to rats with established colorectal metastases through infusion into the hepatic artery, intravenous infusion, or direct injection into a tumor. Intravenous administration resulted in transduction of hepatocytes, but not tumor cells. Hepatic arterial administration failed to substantially increase transduction of tumor cells. In addition, ligation of the hepatic artery following infusion of adenovirus or the addition of lipiodol infusion had no effect on the transduction of tumor cells. We administered AdCMVp53 by direct injection into tumors, intravenous administration, or hepatic artery infusion to evaluate the delivery of a therapeutic gene. Direct injection of AdCMVp53 into established hepatic colorectal metastases resulted in a therapeutic response in comparison with both hepatic arterial and intravenous infusion of vector. These preclinical studies fail to support a strategy of infusion through the hepatic artery of recombinant adenovirus targeting tumor cells in the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Rb, mcl-1 and p53 expression correlate with clinical outcome in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Thymidylate synthase (TS) has been associated with clinical outcome in disseminated colorectal cancer. However, many patients with low TS expression still fail to respond to treatment. Therefore, we studied the cell cycle proteins, Rb, E2F2, Ki67, p21 and p53 and the apoptotic proteins, mcl-1, hax, bcl-xl, bcl-2, Fas receptor, Fas ligand, caspase-3, M30 and PARP as potential predictive factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In biopsy specimens of liver metastases from 31 colorectal cancer patients, protein expression was retrospectively determined by immunohistochemistry and related to response to hepatic arterial or intravenous (i.v.) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment, time to tumour progression (TTP) and overall survival.

RESULTS

Expression of both p53 and Rb correlated with survival benefit after 5-FU treatment. A median survival time of 79 weeks was found in patients with high levels of p53 or Rb compared to 36 and 44 weeks for patients expressing low levels of p53 (P = 0.027) or Rb (P = 0.030), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that p53 was the best predictor of survival independent of sex, age or prior treatment. Following 5-FU hepatic arterial infusion, patients with a high TS expression had a shorter survival time than those with a low expression (P = 0.025). The anti-apoptotic protein mcl-1 was the only factor, which correlated with response to 5-FU treatment. Thirty-five percent of patients with a diffuse mcl-1 expression responded whereas ninety percent of patients with a peri-nuclear expression responded (P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that besides TS, also Rb, p53 and mcl-1 are correlated with clinical outcome in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer: what is the best approach today?

Liver is the common site for metastases from colorectal cancer. The 5-year overall survival rate of patients following radical operations is 25%. Surgery can be carried out in only 10-15% of the patients, yet it remains the potential curative treatment for resectable lesions. For the unresectable cancers, only chemotherapy is recommended. New drugs such as Irinotecan prolongs the overall survival of patients affected by advanced disease. In patients with unresectable metastases at diagnosis, pre-surgical treatment with Oxaliplatin leads to reduction of the lesions, allowing resection in 16% of cases. Chemotherapy may be delivered directly into the liver via the hepatic artery. No, clinical trials, to date, have shown convincing survival results in patients treated with this procedure. Combined hepatic artery and systemic treatment may provide a new strategy as adjuvant therapy for patients undergoing resections.

Alternating hepatic arterial infusion and systemic chemotherapy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer: a phase II trial using intermittent percutaneous hepatic arterial access

PURPOSE

To evaluate the objective response to a short course of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) using temporary, percutaneously placed catheters alternating with systemic prolonged continuous infusion fluorouracil (ci 5-FU) and daily oral leucovorin (L).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eligible patients were previously untreated (except for adjuvant therapy) adults with liver-predominant metastases, with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 2. Treatment regimen included HAI with fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR) 60 mg/m2/d and L 15 mg/m2/d continuously infused daily for 4 days. After a 1-week rest, ci 5-FU was administered through a central venous access device using a dose of 180 mg/m2/d with a fixed dose of oral L at 5 mg/m2/d for 21 out of 28 days. Cycles were repeated every 6 weeks. After four cycles of therapy, patients were maintained on ci 5-FU and daily oral L until evidence of progression.

RESULTS

Forty-three patients were enrolled onto this trial. One patient was ineligible. The objective response rate for all patients (17 partial, zero complete) was 41% (95% confidence interval [CI], 26% to 56%). Five patients were not able to receive at least one complete cycle of HAI. Among patients who received at least one complete cycle of HAI, the response rate was 46% (95% CI, 30% to 62%). Five patients underwent a liver resection after enrolling onto the protocol. At the time of analysis, estimated median time to progression was 6 months, and estimated median overall survival was 13 months.

CONCLUSION

The objective response rate was comparable to that achieved with more prolonged and more frequent HAI using FUDR. This approach should be studied as an acceptable alternative to surgically placed hepatic arterial catheters/pumps and may have a role as neoadjuvant therapy for liver metastases that are unresectable, as well as an adjuvant role for patients with resected hepatic metastatic colorectal cancer.

Advances in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer represents the third leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States. During the past four decades, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has served as the cornerstone of therapy for individuals with advanced colorectal cancer (ACRC). Despite numerous attempts at maximizing efficacy of 5-FU through biochemical modulation, a significant benefit in terms of survival has never been realized. The recent emergence of novel chemotherapeutic drugs employing different mechanisms of action than 5-FU has led to the incorporation of irinotecan (CPT-11) with 5-FU/leucovorin as the new standard first-line regimen for future trials. This review outlines emerging data utilizing oral fluoropyrimidines and other new agents including oxaliplatin, raltitrexed, and eniluracil. Randomized clinical trials are currently underway in an effort to define optimal combination chemotherapy regimens, scheduling of agents, duration of therapy, and choice of therapy using a variety of prognostic molecular markers.

Serum proinflammatory cytokine response in patients with advanced liver tumors following selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with (90)Yttrium microspheres

PURPOSE

To determine the changes in serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines within 48 h after selective internal radiation treatment (SIRT) in patients with advanced liver cancers.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Twenty-eight patients with advanced liver cancers who underwent SIRT were recruited into the study. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma were determined prior to and 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after SIRT. Their changes were correlated to adverse reactions following treatment as assessed by constitutional symptom scores, and routine blood and liver function tests at 24 and 48 h post-SIRT and falls in serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level 1 month post-SIRT.

RESULTS

Serum IL-6 levels were significantly increased at 24 (p < or = 0.05) and 48 h (p < or = 0.01) post-SIRT. In contrast, there was no significant change in the serum levels of other cytokines studied. The increase in serum IL-6 at 24 h post-SIRT was significantly correlated with the changes in serum alanine transferase (p < or = 0.05) and C-reactive protein (p < or = 0.001) levels and total leukocyte counts (p < or = 0.001) at both 24 and 48 h post-SIRT. Changes in serum IL-6 level were also significantly correlated to the rise of serum aspartate transaminase levels at 48 h post-SIRT (p < or = 0.001), but not with the scores of constitutional symptoms or the changes of serum CEA at 1 month post-SIRT.

CONCLUSION

Absence of significant changes in most of proinflammatory cytokines studied confirmed that SIRT is a reasonably safe and well-tolerated treatment with minimal side-effect from the point of view of cytokine-related inflammation. The correlation of serum IL-6 changes with several liver enzymes and C-reactive protein but not with clinical symptom scores or serum CEA levels suggests that the rise in IL-6 levels in the first 48 h following SIRT most likely reflect normal liver cell damage rather than tumor cell damage.

Therapeutic approaches to metastasis confined to the liver

Liver metastases nearly always represent disseminated cancer, and systemic therapies are usually indicated. However, in a minority of patients--some with colorectal cancer, others with selected tumors--management of the hepatic disease may be clinically important and even curative. This review identifies unique patient subgroups and novel treatment approaches that may be indicated in patients with liver metastases.

Phase II study of weekly 24-hour intra-arterial high-dose infusion of 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid for liver metastases from colorectal carcinomas

BACKGROUND

A multicenter phase II trial was initiated in order to evaluate the weekly, high-dose 24-hour infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus folinic acid (FA) in patients with unresectable colorectal cancer hepatic metastases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A weekly hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of FA 500 mg/m2 followed by a 24-hour infusion of 5-FU 2,600 mg/m2 (later reduced to 2,200 mg/m2) was given via a surgically implanted intra-arterial port system. One treatment cycle consisted of six weekly applications followed by a two-week rest period. Toxicity was assessed according to the WHO criteria. Chemotherapy was continued until disease progression or complete response occurred.

RESULTS

A total of 50 patients (40 chemonaive, 10 pre-treated) entered this trial. An objective tumor response occurred in 28 patients (56%), while 13 patients (26%) had stable disease. The median progression free survival was 12 months, and the median survival 22.3 months. Due to a high rate of gastrointestinal side-effects in the initial phase of the trial, the dosage of 5-FU was reduced to 2,200 mg/m2 for all subsequent patients. Diarrhea and nausea led to a dose reduction in 40% of applications and 24% of patients, respectively. One patient died of cardiac insufficiency unrelated to chemotherapy before response evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

This HAI approach using high-dose 5-FU was relatively well tolerated when 2,200 mg/m2 instead of 2,600 mg/m2 was used. The activity of this regimen is promising and warrants further evaluation and modification.

A phase one study of the hepatic arterial administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 for liver cancers

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

It is well established that exposure to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) inhibits the proliferation of human colorectal cancer and hepatoma cell lines, both in vitro and in vivo. However, clinical trials of the administration of 1,25(OH)2D3 and analogs for the treatment of malignancy have been limited by the development of hypercalcemia. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is principally excreted in bile following hepatic catabolism. This suggested the hypothesis that hepatic regional administration may allow high doses of 1,25(OH)2D3 to be administered for the treatment of liver cancers without producing hypercalcemia, caused by a clinically significant first pass effect. This phase one study investigates the effect of hepatic regional administration of 1,25(OH)2D3 on serum calcium levels, together with other markers of renal and liver function.

METHODS

Six subjects with hepatic colorectal cancer metastases and one with primary hepatocellular cancer were given continuous hepatic arterial infusions of 1,25(OH)2D3, for periods of 1-4 weeks. Blood samples were taken regularly and assayed for calcium levels, liver function tests and urea and electrolyte levels.

RESULTS

Patients remained normocalcemic at dosages of up to 10 mcg/day. No patient experienced any side-effects from the treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of 1,25(OH)2D3 as a continuous hepatic arterial infusion allows a high dosage to be administered without inducing hypercalcemia. This route of administration may allow the potential of 1,25(OH)2D3 in the treatment of hepatic cancers to be realized.

Isolated hepatic perfusion for unresectable hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Unresectable colorectal liver metastases are a significant clinical problem. Isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) is a regional treatment technique that delivers high dose chemotherapy, biologic agents, and hyperthermia via a completely isolated vascular recirculating perfusion circuit as a means of regionally treating liver tumors. This study presents our results of IHP with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plus melphalan or IHP with melphalan alone followed by infusional floxuridine (FUDR) and leucovorin in patients with advanced or refractory unresectable hepatic colorectal metastases.

METHODS

Fifty-one patients with unresectable colorectal hepatic metastases underwent a 60-minute IHP with 1.5 mg/kg melphalan and hyperthermia (39 degrees C to 40 degrees C). Thirty-two patients received IHP with 1 mg TNF with melphalan and 19 patients had IHP with melphalan alone followed by monthly hepatic intra-arterial infusional (HAI) FUDR (0.2 mg/kg/day) and leucovorin (15 mg/M(2)/day) for 14 days monthly for up to 12 months. Twenty-six patients failed 1 or more previous treatment regimens for established hepatic metastases and 27 had greater than 25% hepatic replacement (PHR) by tumor. Patients were monitored for response, toxicity, and survival.

RESULTS

There was 1 perioperative death (2%), and only 2 patients (4%) had measurable perfusate leak during IHP (both less than 4%). In the 32 patients treated with IHP alone there were no detectable systemic TNF or melphalan levels during perfusion. The overall objective radiographic response rate (all partial [PR]) was 76% (38 of 50 assessable patients) with a median duration of 10.5 months (range, 2 to 21 months). Twenty-four of 31 patients (77%) had a PR after IHP alone and 14 of 19 (74%) after IHP with postperfusion HAI. Median duration of response was 8.5 months after IHP alone and 14.5 months after IHP and HAI; median survival was 16 and 27 months, respectively. There were 18 PRs in 26 patients (69%) whose prior therapy had failed and 18 PRs in 27 patients (67%) with PHR of 25 or greater.

CONCLUSIONS

IHP can be performed with acceptably low morbidity and has significant antitumor activity in patients with unresectable hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer including those with refractory disease or PHR of 25 or greater. HAI appears to prolong the duration of response after IHP, and this combined treatment strategy deserves additional clinical evaluation as a therapeutic modality in this setting.

Hepatic arterial 5-fluorouracil in patients with liver metastases of colorectal cancer: single-centre experience in 145 patients

BACKGROUND

Hepatic arterial chemotherapy for liver metastases of colorectal cancer is still under discussion. Mainly because of the technical complications of this mode of treatment and the lack of a survival benefit in randomized studies. We performed an analysis of hepatic arterial 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy in 145 consecutive patients treated at a single institution.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred forty-five patients with inoperable liver metastases from colorectal cancer were included. 5-FU, 1000 mg/m2/day continuous infusion for five days every three weeks, was delivered in the hepatic artery by percutaneous catheter or arterial access device.

RESULTS

The response rate was 34% for all patients, 40% in patients with extrahepatic disease, and 15% in patients with i.v. 5-FU-based pretreatment. TTP and OS for all patients were 7.5 and 14.3 months, respectively. In patients with extrahepatic disease or i.v. 5-FU-based pretreatment, OS was significantly shorter compared to patients without extrahepatic disease or 5-FU-based pretreatment (9.7 vs. 19.3 months and 10.1 vs. 17.4 months, respectively), forty-seven percent of patients stopped treatment because of a complication. Complications most often seen in patients with arterial ports were hepatic artery thrombosis (48%) and dislocation of the catheter (22%).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our analysis are in line with previous phase III studies. Extrahepatic disease and i.v. 5-FU-based pretreatment were prognostic for reduced OS. The complication rate of hepatic arterial delivery was worrisome. although, no negative impact on survival could be established. There is a strong need for improvement of hepatic arterial delivery methods before further evaluation of hepatic arterial

Survival after resection of multiple hepatic colorectal metastases

BACKGROUND

Hepatic resection is potentially curative in selected patients with colorectal metastases. It is a widely held practice that multiple colorectal hepatic metastases are not resected, although outcome after removal of four or more metastases is not well defined.

METHODS

Patients with four or more colorectal hepatic metastases who submitted to resection were identified from a prospective database. Number of metastases was determined by serial sectioning of the gross specimen at the time of resection. Demographic data, tumor characteristics, complications, and survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

From August 1985 to September 1998, 155 patients with four or more metastatic tumors (range 4-20) underwent potentially curative resection by extended hepatectomy (39%), lobectomy (42%), or multiple segmental resections (19%). Operative morbidity and mortality were 26% and 1%, respectively. Actuarial 5-year survival was 23% for the entire group (median = 32 months) and there were 12 actual 5-year survivors. On multivariate analysis, only number of hepatic tumors (P = .005) and the presence of a positive margin (P = .003) were independent predictors of poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic resection in patients with four or more colorectal metastases can achieve long-term survival although the results are less favorable as the number of tumors increases. Number of hepatic metastases alone should not be used as a sole contraindication to resection, but it is clear that the majority of patients will not be cured after resection of multiple lesions.

Surgery after downstaging of unresectable hepatic tumors with intra-arterial chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

This retrospective study was performed to assess the outcome among patients who underwent hepatic resection or tumor ablation after hepatic artery infusion (HAI) therapy down-staged previously unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

Between 1983 and 1998, 25 patients with HCC and 383 patients with hepatic CRC metastases were treated with HAI therapy for unresectable liver disease. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 26 (6%) of these patients who underwent subsequent surgical exploration for tumor resection or ablation.

RESULTS

At a median of 9 months (range 7-12 months) after HAI treatment, four patients (16%) with HCC underwent exploratory surgery; two underwent resection with negative margins, and the other two were given radiofrequency ablation (RFA) because of underlying cirrhosis. At a median postoperative follow-up of 16 months (range 6-48 months), all four patients were alive with no evidence of disease. At a median of 14.5 months (range 8-24 months) after HAI therapy, 22 patients with hepatic CRC metastases underwent exploratory surgery; 10 underwent resection, 6 underwent resection and RFA or cryotherapy, and 2 underwent RFA only. At a median follow-up of 17 months, 15 (83%) of the 18 patients with CRC who had received surgical treatment had developed recurrent disease; the other 3 died of other causes (1 of postoperative complications) within 7 months of the surgery. One patient in whom disease recurred underwent a second resection and was disease-free at 1 year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic resection or ablation after tumor downstaging with HAI therapy is a viable option for patients with unresectable HCC. However, given the high rate of recurrence of metastases from CRC, hepatic resection or ablation after downstaging with HAI should be used with caution.

Global approach to hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer: indication and outcome of intra-arterial chemotherapy and other hepatic-directed treatments

Liver metastases of colorectal cancer is present in more than 20% of new diagnosed patients and in 40-60% of relapsed patients. It is a life-threatening prognostic aspect. Hepatic resection, when possible, is the best therapeutic modality, although the overall survival rate is still low (30%). Angiography and intraoperative ultrasonography are useful for resection. The number of hepatic metastases and the surgical margin are probably the most significant prognostic factors. Colorectal cancer may spread predominantly to the liver making regional treatment strategies viable options. Subtotal hepatic resections and segmentectomies are potentially curable procedures for single or small numbers of hepatic metastases without other sites of disease. However, there have been no prospective randomized trials comparing patients with unresected liver metastases and resected metastases. Regional chemotherapy with floxuridine seems usefull combined with hepatic resection or as palliative therapy. Gastric ulcer and biliary sclerosis are the main related toxicities. Patients with localized, unresectable hepatic metastases or concomitant bad medical condition may be candidates for radiation, percutaneous ethanol injection, cryosurgery, percutaneous radiofrequency, hypoxic flow-stop perfusions with bioreductive alkylating agents, hepatic arterial ligation, embolization and chemoembolization. These new hepatic-directed modalities of treatment are being investigated and may offer new approaches to providing palliation and prolonging survival. This review will report the possibilities of intra-arterial chemotherapy and other novel hepatic-directed approaches to the treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Basis for effective combination cancer chemotherapy with antimetabolites

Most current chemotherapy regimens for cancer consist of empirically designed combinations, based on efficacy and lack of overlapping toxicity. In the development of combinations, several aspects are often overlooked: (1) possible metabolic and biological interactions between drugs, (2) scheduling, and (3) different pharmacokinetic profiles. Antimetabolites are used widely in chemotherapy combinations for treatment of various leukemias and solid tumors. Ideally, the combination of two or more agents should be more effective than each agent separately (synergism), although additive and even antagonistic combinations may result in a higher therapeutic efficacy in the clinic. The median-drug effect analysis method is one of the most widely used methods for in vitro evaluation of combinations. Several examples of classical effective antimetabolite-(anti)metabolite combinations are discussed, such as that of methotrexate with 6-mercaptopurine or leucovorin in (childhood) leukemia and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) with leucovorin in colon cancer. More recent combinations include treatment of acute-myeloid leukemia with fludarabine and arabinosylcytosine. Other combinations, currently frequently used in the treatment of solid malignancies, include an antimetabolite with a DNA-damaging agent, such as gemcitabine with cisplatin and 5FU with the cisplatin analog oxaliplatin. The combination of 5FU and the topoisomerase inhibitor irinotecan is based on decreased repair of irinotecan-induced DNA damage. These combinations may increase induction of apoptosis. The latter combinations have dramatically changed the treatment of incurable cancers, such as lung and colon cancer, and have demonstrated that rationally designed drug combinations offer new possibilities to treat solid malignancies.

Relation between tumour response to first-line chemotherapy and survival in advanced colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis. Meta-Analysis Group in Cancer

BACKGROUND

Treatment of advanced colorectal cancer has progressed substantially. However, improvements in response rates have not always translated into significant survival benefits. Doubts have therefore been raised about the usefulness of tumour response as a clinical endpoint.

METHODS

This meta-analysis was done on individual data from 3791 patients enrolled in 25 randomised trials of first-line treatment with standard bolus intravenous fluoropyrimidines versus experimental treatments (fluorouracil plus leucovorin, fluorouracil plus methotrexate, fluorouracil continuous infusion, or hepatic-arterial infusion of floxuridine). Analyses were by intention to treat.

FINDINGS

Compared with bolus fluoropyrimidines, experimental fluoropyrimidines led to significantly higher tumour response rates (454 responses among 2031 patients vs 209 among 1760; odds ratio 0.48 [95% CI 0.40-0.57], p<0.0001) and better survival (1808 deaths among 2031 vs 1580 among 1760; hazard ratio 0.90 [0.84-0.97], p=0.003). The survival benefits could be explained by the higher tumour response rates. However, a treatment that lowered the odds of failure to respond by 50% would be expected to decrease the odds of death by only 6%. In addition, less than half of the variability of the survival benefits in the 25 trials could be explained by the variability of the response benefits in these trials.

INTERPRETATION

These analyses confirm that an increase in tumour response rate translates into an increase in overall survival for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. However, in the context of individual trials, knowledge that a treatment has benefits on tumour response does not allow accurate prediction of the ultimate benefit on survival.

The role of meta-analyses in assessing cancer treatments

The results of individual phase III cancer clinical trials are often inconclusive due to the overly optimistic size of treatment differences that are sought. Increased power and precision can generally be obtained if the data from several different trials studying the same or similar questions are analysed together. Individual patient data meta-analyses, which combine together the quantitative results from all properly randomised studies, provide an overall estimate of the size of treatment differences. Individual patient data meta-analyses have played an especially important role in breast and gastrointestinal tract cancers where many important questions have been addressed. Although meta-analyses have been subject to considerable criticism, individual patient data meta-analyses provide the best overall evidence of treatment effect in the absence of large-scale trials and have been instrumental in providing objective data that can be used in the design of new studies.

Hepatic artery access ports: recognizing and avoiding the problems

BACKGROUND

Regional approaches to the management of hepatic tumours are appropriate in some clinical situations and include hepatic arterial chemotherapy (HAC) and selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT). Both require access to the hepatic artery, which is conveniently achieved with a subcutaneously placed port. Placement and use of these ports may be associated with a variety of technical problems which can impact adversely on the outcome of the treatment. The present paper outlines the problems related to port usage for regional hepatic therapies, with emphasis on the technical aspects of insertion and interpretation and management of subsequent problems.

METHODS

Hepatic artery port placement was attempted in 129 patients for use with either SIRT and/or HAC. Ports were used or flushed at monthly intervals.

RESULTS

Successful port insertion was achieved in 127 patients, of whom 87 received HAC alone, seven received SIRT alone, 28 patients received both and in five patients the port was never used. Methylene blue injection was used to identify anomalous arterial anatomy, which was found in 26 of 95 patients (27%), and significant extrahepatic 'access', which was seen in 25 patients (26%) after initial placement. Forty-six instances of technical problems preventing continued use of the port occurred in 43 patients after a median of 4 (0-36) cycles of chemotherapy, including hepatic artery thrombosis (n = 26), catheter blockage (n = 4), duodenal fistula (n = 3), gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (n = 3), side-effects (n = 3), access problems (n = 3), extravasation (n = 3) and infection (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

Methods used to identify, manage and in some instances prevent the occurrence of these problems are discussed.

Effect of carbogen breathing on the pharmacodynamics of 5-fluorouracil in a murine colon carcinoma

To determine whether carbogen breathing has an effect on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) uptake, retention and metabolism in C38 murine colon tumours grown in C57Bl/6 mice, we used in vivo 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Eleven tumour-bearing mice were treated with 150 mg/kg of 5-FU given intraperitoneally (i.p.). Five mice received carbogen gas (95% O(2) and 5% CO(2)) for 9.5 min, starting 1 min before 5-FU administration. We found increased levels of 5-FU and its anabolites and catabolites by sequential ¿19F NMR spectroscopy in the group treated with 5-FU in combination with carbogen compared with the group treated with 5-FU alone. The maximum of normalised values of 5-FU and its metabolites, reached after carbogen breathing, was almost 2-fold higher than after treatment with 5-FU alone. Despite these increased concentrations no significant effect of carbogen on growth inhibition of the tumour by 5-FU was observed, which may be related to the size as well as the well vascularised and perfused conditions of the tumours studied.

Aggressive surgical approach to recurrent tumors after hepatectomy for metastatic spread of colorectal cancer to the liver

BACKGROUND

Liver resection is currently accepted as the only potential cure for patients with metastases of colorectal tumors in the liver. However, cancer will recur in more than 70% of patients.

METHODS

In the 7 years to December 1997, 60 patients underwent liver resections for colorectal metastases at our institute. Of these, 20 patients had repeated surgical resections for recurrent disease of the liver and other organs. Another 2 patients had undergone previous hepatectomy elsewhere. The clinical data for these patients were reviewed.

RESULTS

The median interval between the 2 resections was 16 months. Eighteen hepatectomies, 6 lung resections, and 1 pancreatoduodenectomy were performed in 22 patients. Operative mortality and complication rates were 0% and 18%, respectively. At a median follow-up of 25 months after repeated resection, the survival rate in these patients was 73% at 2 years (12 of 16 evaluable patients are surviving) and 22% at 5 years (2 of 10 evaluable patients are surviving); the median survival time was 44 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated resections for recurrent colorectal metastases yield comparable results to first liver resections in operative mortality and morbidity rates, survival time, and pattern of recurrence. Although the number of patients surviving more than 5 years is still limited, the absence of other proven treatments supports the concept of an aggressive resectional approach for these patients.

Intra-arterial chemotherapy for unresectable pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

A phase II trial of a new intra-arterial chemotherapy regimen for unresectable pancreatic cancer (UPC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ninety-six patients with UPC were treated with intra-arterial chemotherapy at three-weekly intervals. The schedule used was FLEC: 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2, folinic acid 100 mg/m2, carboplatin 300 mg/m2; epirubicin 60 mg/m2.

RESULTS

The overall response rates by CT-scan evaluation were: 15% partial response (PR), 44% stable disease (SD), 17% progressive disease (PD). The overall median survival was 9.9 months, and 10.6 and 6.8 for UICC stage III and IV, respectively. Pain reduction occurred in 42% of patients. A weight gain > 7% from baseline occurred in 8% of patients. A total of 341 courses of FLEC were administered. Grade 3-4 hematological toxicity was seen in 25% of patients; ematemesis in 4%; grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity in 3%; and grade 3 alopecia in 16%. One sudden death, a pre-infarction angina, and a transitory ischemic attack were observed. The only complication related to the angiographic procedure was an intimal dissection of the iliac artery.

CONCLUSIONS

The intra-arterial FLEC regimen was well tolerated and active. It requires only one day of hospitalization. Efficacy could only be assessed in a randomized study against a gemcitabine containing regimen.

Hepatic malignancies

The battle against malignancies of the liver is far from over, although tremendous strides have been made in the past decade, such as improved diagnostic capabilities, safe surgical resection, availability of safe nonsurgical ablative modalities, multimodality therapy, and aggressive approach to recurrent disease. Even after the best attempts at curative treatment, recurrence of primary and secondary malignancies of the liver continues to be the cause of demise for more than 70% of treated patients. The battle continues in the laboratories, where investigations are focused on delineating the pathophysiology of cancer on the molecular and genetic levels and mapping the patterns of cancer emergence and spread. The new millennium holds promise for formulating therapies that may improve disease-free survival for patients with malignancies of the liver.

Cost-effectiveness of second-line treatment with irinotecan or infusional 5-fluorouracil in metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

It has been shown that irinotecan is superior to infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer after 5-FU failure. In a recent trial, median survival was 10.8 months for patients treated with irinotecan, compared to 8.5 months in patients receiving infusional 5-FU. Considering the statistically significant but clinically relatively small advantage of irinotecan over 5-FU, cost effectiveness should also be part of treatment decision.

PURPOSE

To relate the costs of each management approach to overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The healthcare costs and medical benefits (treatment-added survival) of second-line chemotherapy in patients (infusional 5-FU: 129, irinotecan: 127) were compared. Data on overall survival were drawn from a multicenter randomised trial that compared infusional 5-FU (continuous infusion, AIO, or LV5-FU2 regimens) to irinotecan alone. Costs were derived from the accounting system in two university hospitals in Paris, France.

RESULTS

The range in total healthcare costs was 14,135 to 12,192 US$ patient between management approaches, with irinotecan chemotherapy costing most and 5-FU-continuous infusion least. If survival was included as a treatment benefit, the cost-effectiveness ratio of irinotecan over 5-FU ranged from 9,344 to 10,137 US$ per year of added survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The least expensive management for metastatic colorectal was 5-FU infusion but the additional cost of irinotecan was balanced by the added months of survival, with a cost-effectiveness ratio close to that of other cancer treatments.

Indicators for treatment strategies of colorectal liver metastases

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the survival predictors of patients undergoing hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastasis to determine useful indicators for therapy selection.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Although recurrence develops in more than two thirds of patients undergoing hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastasis, preoperative characteristics that might predict such recurrence have yet to be clearly identified.

METHODS

Clinicopathologic data of 85 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer who underwent a curative resection of primary lesions and metastatic liver diseases at one institute were analyzed using the multivariate method with respect to both the metastatic state and the primary lesion.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis indicated that the aggressiveness of the primary tumor, early liver metastasis, and a large number of liver metastases were the characteristics that could be detected before hepatectomy and that independently indicated a worse survival. A three-ranked classification based on these coefficients (H-staging) was significantly related to both the recurrence rate within 6 months (7% in H-stage A, 30% in B, and 44% in C) and the 5-year survival rates (55%, 14%, and 0% respectively). An additional scoring system (H'-staging) based on the aggressiveness of the primary tumor and the level of carcinoembryonic antigen 1 to 3 months after hepatectomy was found to be related to the mode of subsequent recurrence and surgical resectability of the recurrent foci.

CONCLUSIONS

H-staging can provide useful prognostic information for the treatment of liver metastasis. H-staging could also help in predicting the possible mode of recurrence after hepatectomy and in determining the most suitable mode of additional therapy. Further multiinstitutional studies based on a large collective database will confirm the utility of these two staging systems.

Palliative chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer. Colorectal Meta-analysis Collaboration

BACKGROUND

Despite the increasing use of palliative chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer, there remains uncertainty as to the true effectiveness of this intervention. This review was therefore undertaken to assess the available evidence for the benefit of palliative chemotherapy in this disease.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the benefits and harms of palliative chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer. A secondary objective was to investigate outcomes for younger and elderly patients.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Trials were identified by computerised and hand searches of the literature, scanning references and contacting investigators.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomised controlled trials of palliative chemotherapy compared with supportive care alone in patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer. Both randomised and non-randomised studies were considered when searching for data on quality of life, resource use and cost effectiveness of palliative chemotherapy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Investigators from all eligible studies were asked to supply individual patient data. Meta-analysis was performed using both published data and individual patient data. Studies were grouped according to whether chemotherapy was administered regionally or systemically.

MAIN RESULTS

13 randomised controlled trials representing a total of 1365 randomised patients met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of a subset of trials that provided individual patient data demonstrated that palliative chemotherapy was associated with a 35% (95% CI 24% to 44%) reduction in the risk of death. This translates into an absolute improvement in survival of 16% at both 6 months and 12 months and an improvement in median survival of 3.7 months. The overall quality of evidence relating to treatment toxicity, symptom control and quality of life was poor.

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS

Chemotherapy is effective in prolonging time to disease progression and survival in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The survival benefit may be underestimated by this meta-analysis, as a proportion of patients in the control arms of some trials received chemotherapy. No age related differences were found in the effectiveness of chemotherapy, but elderly patients were under represented in trials. Treatment toxicity and impact upon quality of life and symptom control have been inadequately assessed in the majority of trials and further research is needed to clarify the palliative benefit of chemotherapy.

Randomized, multicenter trial of fluorouracil plus leucovorin administered either via hepatic arterial or intravenous infusion versus fluorodeoxyuridine administered via hepatic arterial infusion in patients with nonresectable liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma

PURPOSE

To assess the efficacy and tolerability of three treatments for patients with documented adenocarcinoma of the colon and/or rectum who have undergone complete resection of primary tumor and have nonresectable liver metastases that do not exceed 75% of the liver volume.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 168 patients at 25 treatment centers were enrolled onto this prospective, multicenter, randomized study. The three treatment arms were as follows: (1) fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV) administered via hepatic arterial infusion (HAI), (2) 5-FU/LV administered via intravenous (IV) infusion, and (3) fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR) administered via HAI.

RESULTS

Median times to disease progression for the three treatment arms were as follows: 9.2 months for patients treated with HAI 5-FU/LV, 6.6 months for IV 5-FU/LV, and 5.9 months for HAI FUDR. Median survival times for patients treated with HAI 5-FU/LV, IV 5-FU/LV, and HAI FUDR were 18.7 months, 17.6 months, and 12.7 months, respectively. There was a nearly two-fold increase in time to progression in addition to a survival benefit among patients with an intrahepatic tumor burden of less than 25% who were treated with HAI 5-FU/LV. The most common adverse events were stomatitis, nausea and vomiting, skin irritation, diarrhea, and elevated serum levels of liver enzymes. Some patients exhibited severe reactions, including biliary sclerosis and chemical hepatitis.

CONCLUSION

Although the use of HAI 5-FU/LV as a means of treating liver metastases after resection of colorectal carcinoma warrants further investigation, it cannot be recommended as a routine therapeutic measure at this time.

Optimal injection protocol for CT evaluation during hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE

As an imaging modality for follow-up during continuous or repeated hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy using a hepatic intra-arterial indwelling catheter, the usefulness of CT while infusing contrast through the indwelling catheter (reservoir port) was examined.

METHODS

Using reservoir ports implanted in eight patients with hepatic metastasis from colon cancer, radioisotope perfusion scintigraphy (RI), CT (three rates of infusion of contrast were used), and digital subtraction angiography (AG) were performed to compare the modalities' ability to visualize the intrahepatic and abnormal extrahepatic distributions.

RESULTS

CT (infusion rate 0.1 mL/sec) was superior to AG and RI in terms of the ability to visualize intrahepatic distribution, particularly in small areas, and facilitated 3D delineation of the distribution. In evaluating extrahepatic distribution, CT also outperformed the other modalities.

CONCLUSIONS

For imaging study follow-up during hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, CT proved to be more useful than conventional RI and AG.

Survival impact of chemotherapy in patients with colorectal metastases confined to the liver: a re-analysis of 1458 non-operable patients randomised in 22 trials and 4 meta-analyses. Meta-Analysis Group in Cancer

BACKGROUND

Metastases confined to the liver is a frequent situation in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. For non-operable patients, 5-FU-based chemotherapy is often proposed but the importance of the choice of first line 5-FU regimen remains debatable.

DESIGN

In four previously performed meta-analyses, our group had compared bolus intravenous fluoropyrimidines (bolus FU group) with experimental fluoropyrimidines (experimental FU group), consisting of 5-FU plus leucovorin, 5-FU plus methotrexate, continuous infusion 5-FU, or hepaticartery infusion FUDR. We re-analysed this data set to focus on 1458 patients with non-operable colorectal metastases confined to the liver, randomised in 22 trials. All analyses were stratified by trial and used individual patient data.

RESULTS

Median survival times were 11.3 months in the bolus FU group (95% CI: 10.5-12.0 months) compared to 12.7 months in the experimental FU group (95% CI: 120-13.1 months). This difference, although clinically small, was statistically significant, with an overall survival hazard ratio of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.79-0.99, P = 0.037). In a multivariate analysis, performance status was the only significant predictor of survival (P < 10(-4)), whereas the statistical significance of allocated treatment was borderline (P = 0.058).

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome of patient with non-operable colorectal metastases confined to the liver is poor, and mainly driven by their initial performance status. Experimental chemotherapy schedules yield a small improvement in their overall survival, indicating the importance of the choice of first-line chemotherapy.

Current treatment for colorectal cancer metastatic to the liver

Surgery is currently the only available treatment option which offers the potential for cure for patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Of those who undergo a potentially curative operation for their primary tumour but subsequently recur, almost 80% will develop evidence of metastatic disease within the liver. Greater experience and improvements in technique in liver surgery, with an increasingly aggressive surgical approach to metastatic colorectal cancer to the liver, has resulted in prolonged disease-free survival with 5-year rates varying from 21% to 48%. In order to increase these numbers further and to treat patients not eligible for surgical therapy, new treatment modalities and strategies have been developed. This review presents an update of the current treatment for colorectal disease metastatic to the liver.

Quantitative detection of lac-Z-transfected CC531 colon carcinoma cells in an orthotopic rat liver metastasis model

Disseminated colon carcinoma metastases in the liver are associated with low cure rates and constitute a serious therapeutic problem. Appropriate experimental models which mimic metastases development and outgrowth can provide insight into the mechanism of this lethal process and facilitate the finding of new approaches for its control. We established an orthotopic liver metastases model based on CC531 rat colon adenocarcinoma cells which were transfected with a beta-galactosidase gene as marker to facilitate their detection. Intraportal injection of CC531-lac-Z cells resulted in a rapid and locally aggressive growth within the liver and was characterised by a tumour volume doubling time of 20 h and abundant angiogenesis. A commercially available chemi-luminescence assay allowed rapid, quantitative and sensitive detection of the diffusely growing tumour cells. Immunogenicity of CC531-lac-Z cells induced by the marker gene was significantly reduced by co-administering the tumour cells with matrigel. Within an observation period of three weeks following tumour cell injection only 6% of the animals showed lung involvement, thus indicating a specific homing of CC531-lac-Z cells to the liver. This period appears long enough to allow therapeutic manipulations at various stages of tumour growth in the liver. It is envisaged that the model will have applications for various therapeutic strategies.

Developments in fluoropyrimidine therapy for gastrointestinal cancer

The combination of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin is the standard treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer and in Dukes' C colon cancer. There is, however, no agreement on the method for administration in metastatic colorectal cancer. Several new studies published in 1998 suggest that infusional 5-fluorouracil gives a higher response rate and better toxicity profile compared with a standard bolus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin regimen. The median survival rate, however, is not different. Several new active drugs are being developed for advanced colorectal cancer. It has not yet been shown that these drugs as single agents are superior to an optimal 5-fluorouracil regimen. Combination trials of 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin with oxaliplatin, CPT-11 and raltitrexed are ongoing, and it can be expected that several of these combinations will be more active than 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin. The challenge for the future will be to show the most active combination and the best sequence of these combinations. The development of the orally administered fluoropyrimidines was rapid in 1998. Randomized studies comparing UFT, capecitabine, and eniluracil plus 5-fluorouracil with 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin are ongoing.

Long-term survival of patients with unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases following infusional chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and surgery

CONTEXT

Long-term survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer has been achieved only in patients who underwent complete resection of metastases. Such surgery could be performed in a greater proportion of patients if effective chemotherapy could downstage previously unresectable metastases. This approach has been limited by the low tumor response rate achieved with conventional chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE

We studied the outcome of patients with initially unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer treated with a three-drug chemotherapy regimen followed by liver metastases surgery whenever possible.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From March 1988 to June 1994, 151 patients with colorectal liver metastases were considered initially unresectable because of large tumor size (> 5 cm), multinodular (> 4) or ill-located metastases. All patients received fully ambulatory chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (chronotherapy in 83% of them). They were periodically reassessed for surgery by a joint medico-surgical team.

RESULTS

In 151 patients, the size of liver metastases decreased by > 50% in 89 patients (59%) and median overall survival was 24 months (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 19-28 months), with 28% surviving at five years (20%-35%). Surgery with curative intent was attempted in 77 patients (51%), complete resection of liver metastases was achieved in 58 patients (38%). The median survival of the 77 operated patients was 48 months (25-71), with a five-year survival rate of 50% (38-61).

CONCLUSION

This new strategy of combining effective chemotherapy with surgery apparently altered the natural history of unresectable colorectal cancer metastases.

Extrahepatic regional chemotherapy: use of technetium-99m labeled macroaggregated albumin

The purpose of this study was to verify the applicability of nuclear techniques with technetium-99m labeled macroaggregated albumin (Tc-99m-MAA) in extrahepatic regional chemotherapy. Of 98 patients in whom arterial Port-a-caths were implanted by transcutaneous access, 13 were treated by regional extrahepatic chemotherapy (breast, one; pancreas, four; kidney, one; uterus, three; vagina, two; bladder, two). In all 13 patients, Tc-99m-MAA was slowly infused intraarterially. The examination showed the perfusion of the area with the neoplasm and excluded the presence of important misperfusions of Tc-99m-MAA to the nearest areas. To detect the presence of an arteriovenous shunt with systemic misperfusion, an anterior image of the thorax was obtained in all patients and an index of misperfusion was calculated. In 12 patients, the index was < 5%; in one patient it was about 40%. In conclusion, our preliminary experience concerns the monitoring of intraarterial infusion chemotherapy of extrahepatic districts. In all 13 patients, we evaluated the correct positioning of the intraarterial catheter and the distribution pattern of the arterial flow, with a semiquantitative indication of arteriovenous shunting. This method gave us an instrument of study that was inexpensive, harmless, and free of collateral complications.

Phase II evaluation of treatment of complete resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer and adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion of floxuridine: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study (PB083)

This study was designed to evaluate hepatic arterial infusion of floxuridine (FUDR) in patients with resected hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer. Patients who met eligibility criteria had an Infusaid pump (Infusaid Corporation, Sharon, MA, U.S.A.) implanted for intraarterial administration of chemotherapy. After complete surgical resection of hepatic metastases, FUDR (0.2 mg/kg/day) was given in 28-day cycles consisting of 14 days of treatment followed by 14 days of rest. Of 11 patients enrolled, one was ineligible, one received no treatment because of a blocked pump, and nine were treated per protocol. Of the nine treated patients, all are dead: one from hepatic toxicity, one from unrelated causes, and seven from progressive disease. Grade 3-4 toxicity included three cases of gastritis and two cases of hepatotoxicity from FUDR. Although this regimen was not successful, in part because of toxicity, the patient population studied here should be considered for future studies of adjuvant therapy.

Sorbitol removal by the metastatic liver: a predictor of systemic toxicity of intra-arterial chemotherapy in patients with liver metastases

BACKGROUND/AIM

Hepatic arteriovenous shunting in the metastatic liver reduces the advantages of intraarterial infusion of chemotherapeutic agents because of the passage of drugs into the systemic circulation. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess spontaneous functional hepatic arteriovenous shunting in patients with liver metastases and to determine its implication in the increase in systemic toxic effects of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy with floxuridine.

METHODS

Twenty-five patients who underwent implantation of arterial ports for regional chemotherapy of liver metastases were studied. Functional hepatic arterio-venous shunting was evaluated through the bioavailability of intra-arterially administered D-sorbitol, a safe, natural compound whose kinetic features make its hepatic clearance flow dependent. In addition, D-sorbitol hepatic clearance (a parameter reflecting functional liver blood flow) and common liver function tests were evaluated for each studied patient. Patients were then grouped with respect to the percentage of medically-assessed liver occupation by metastases and with respect to systemic toxicity of the chemotherapeutic treatment. Both univariate and multivariate analyses by Student's t-test and stepwise logistic regression, respectively, were performed in both groups for each of the evaluated parameters (age, liver function tests, D-sorbitol hepatic clearance and arterial bioavailability).

RESULTS

Arterial bioavailability of D-sorbitol ranged between 0.05 and 0.72 and was significantly greater in patients with more than 50% liver occupation (0.39+/-0.19) compared with those with minor liver involvement (0.17+/-0.13; p = 0.003); it was also significantly greater in patients experiencing high-grade systemic toxicity (0.40+/-0.19) compared with those with low-grade toxicity (0.16+/-0.11; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that arterial bioavailability of D-sorbitol was the only parameter among those evaluated which was able to predict systemic toxicity of this kind of chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that, in the metastatic liver, arterial bioavailability of D-sorbitol, an index of functional arteriovenous shunting, varies widely, is significantly greater in patients with massive liver occupation and it is a good predictor of systemic toxicity of intra-arterial regional chemotherapy with floxuridine.